I sensed something off in the air between them and Jim seemed especially fixated on Alicia.
Jonathan took a call, leaving just the three of us.
Jim glanced at me and said, “There’s nothing to figure out. The three of us grew up together.”
They were childhood friends. It seemed that, besides Jonathan and Alicia, Jim also harbored some complicated feelings for her.
Alicia’s expression shifted slightly as she told Jim, “I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”
His tone turned sharp. “Of course, I’m not worried. What good would that do? You’d just stubbornly go your way anyway.”
Alicia stayed silent, her head–bowed.
It was like a silent standoff between them.
When Jonathan came back in, the atmosphere finally eased a bit.
I wasn’t sure if he noticed the subtle tension between Jim and Alicia, but he acted like he didn’t see it. He said to me, “The doctor’s over there. Let’s go to the next room.”
My arm really did hurt, so I didn’t argue.
An older male doctor tended to my wound. As he dressed my arm, I instinctively hid my left hand, not wanting him to see the scars on my wrist. I feared he’d mention it to Jonathan.
The doctor left the room once he was done.
It was just Jonathan and me sitting in silence. Neither spoke first, but I could feel his gaze fixed on me the whole time.
I stayed quiet.
I don’t know how long it had passed before he suddenly stood up. “So, what’s going on this time?”
There was that condescending tone again.
It was as if I’d always been a child in his eyes, throwing tantrums over trivial nonsense that was not worth taking seriously.
I shut my eyes, too tired to deal with him, exhaling slowly in a lazy act of defiance. That flickered a spark of anger in his eyes.
He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up. “If you’re not seriously hurt, then answer me properly.”
Chapter 89
“What if I don’t want to answer?” I stared at him frustration written all over my face.
“Elise, what exactly are you thinking?”
He pinned me against the sofa behind me, my back hitting the cushion, trapping me with nowhere to run.
I met his gaze head–on. “What I think is none of your business! Do you want to control my thoughts, too?”
His expression darkened. “You called me before, didn’t you? It was about Aria, wasn’t it?”
I said nothing..
He released my chin, sat on the sofa, and pulled me onto his lap. He parted my knees, forcing me to straddle him, leaving me completely exposed and held in place.
I struggled briefly, but he pressed down on my waist, pulling us closer.
“Jonathan!”
His pressure overwhelmed me at this distance, making it impossible to avoid his gaze.
He studied me like a judge inspecting a criminal. “Why would you block me after calling me for help?”
There was a barely perceptible threat in his gaze. ‘Is it because Frederick can help you?”
He asked casually, but it felt like he’d snap my neck if I nodded.
I took a steady breath, my voice calm. “It’s because Aria is Frederick’s sister. Only he would help me wholeheartedly.”
Jonathan narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in them. “So, you hung up on me and blocked my number because you think Frederick can help you better?”
Chapter 90
Chapter 90
